Bill Summary
The **Supporting Military Families Exposed to Toxic Substances Act** is a piece of legislation aimed at expanding health care access through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for certain family members and individuals connected to veterans who have been exposed to toxic substances.
Key provisions of the Act include:
1. **Eligibility for Health Care**: The Act allows individuals who either resided at or worked at specific locations with a presumption of service-connection for certain illnesses to receive hospital care and medical services from the VA. This includes individuals who were in utero while their mother was at such locations.
2. **Conditions for Eligibility**: To qualify, these individuals must demonstrate exposure to the same conditions that qualify veterans for similar benefits, as determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
3. **Limitations on Services**: The VA's provision of care is subject to funding availability and the individuals must have exhausted other payment options before the VA can provide services.
4. **Reporting Requirements**: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is mandated to submit annual reports detailing the number of individuals receiving care, the conditions being treated, and data on applications for care, including denials.
Overall, the Act seeks to ensure that families affected by toxic exposure related to military service receive necessary medical support.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Supporting Military Families Exposed to Toxic Substances Act" could affect people:
1. **Access to Health Care for Family Members**: The legislation expands eligibility for health care services to family members of veterans, including those who resided with or were in utero while their mothers worked at specific locations linked to toxic exposure. This means that these family members can receive necessary medical care for illnesses related to that exposure, improving their overall health outcomes and providing much-needed support for those who may suffer from conditions without sufficient medical evidence.
2. **Financial Relief from Health Care Costs**: By allowing family members and other individuals to access hospital care and medical services through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the act can alleviate the financial burden associated with healthcare costs for those affected by toxic exposure. This is particularly significant for families dealing with chronic illnesses that require ongoing treatment, as they may otherwise face high out-of-pocket expenses if they had to rely solely on private insurance or personal funds.
3. **Accountability and Transparency in Health Services**: The requirement for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit annual reports on the services provided under this act will enhance transparency and accountability in the VA's practices. By documenting the number of individuals served, the types of illnesses treated, and the reasons for any denials, the legislation encourages continuous evaluation of the effectiveness of the health care provided and can lead to improvements in policy and services for veterans and their families affected by toxic exposures.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6376 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6376
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to provide health care for family members and other
individuals who resided at or worked at locations where there is a
presumption of service-connection for certain illnesses and conditions,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 3, 2025
Ms. Brownley (for herself and Ms. Tlaib) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to provide health care for family members and other
individuals who resided at or worked at locations where there is a
presumption of service-connection for certain illnesses and conditions,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Military Families Exposed
to Toxic Substances Act''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE FOR
FAMILY MEMBERS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO RESIDED AT OR
WORKED AT LOCATIONS WHERE THERE IS A PRESUMPTION OF
SERVICE-CONNECTION FOR CERTAIN ILLNESSES AND CONDITIONS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1790. Health care for family members and other individuals who
resided at or worked at locations where there is a
presumption of service-connection for certain illnesses
and conditions
``(a) In General.--(1) An individual described in subsection (b)
shall be eligible for hospital care and medical services furnished by
the Secretary for a covered illness or condition.
``(2) An individual described in this subsection is an individual
who--
``(A) resided at, worked at, or was in utero while their
mother resided at or worked at a location for which the
Secretary has established a presumption of service-connection
for any illness or condition under or pursuant to chapter 11 of
this title for the time period required for such presumption;
and
``(B) can demonstrate that the individual was exposed to
the same condition or conditions that qualify veterans for such
presumption, as determined by the Secretary.
``(b) Limitations.--(1) The Secretary may only furnish hospital
care and medical services under subsection (a) to the extent and in the
amount provided in advance in appropriations Acts for such purpose.
``(2) Hospital care and medical services may not be furnished under
subsection (a) for an illness or condition of an individual that is
found, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Under Secretary for
Health, to have resulted from a cause other than time spent at a
location referred to in subsection (a)(2)(A).
``(3) The Secretary may furnish hospital care or medical services
provided to an individual described in subsection (a)(2) only after the
individual or the provider of such care or services has exhausted
without success all claims and remedies reasonably available to the
individual or provider against a third party (as defined in section
1725(f) of this title) for payment of such care or services, including
with respect to health-plan contracts (as defined in such section).
``(c) Covered Illness or Condition.--In this section, the term
`covered illness or condition' means, with respect to an individual who
resided at, worked at, or was in utero while their mother resided at or
worked at a location, an illness or condition for which the Secretary
has established a presumption of service-connection under or pursuant
to chapter 11 of this title based on service in the Armed Forces at
that location, notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical
evidence to conclude that the illness or condition is attributable to
such residence or work.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
1789 the following new item:
``1790. Health care for family members and other individuals who
resided at or worked at locations where
there is a presumption of service-
connection for certain illnesses and
conditions.''.
(c) Reports.--Not later than December 31 of each of 2027, 2028, and
2029, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the hospital care
and medical services provided under section 1790 of title 38, United
States Code, as added by subsection (a). Each such report shall include
each of the following:
(1) The number of individuals who were furnished hospital
care or medical services under such section during the period
beginning on January 1, 2026, and ending on the date of such
report.
(2) The illnesses and conditions for which such care or
services were provided and the location associated with the
presumption of service-connection for each such illness or
condition.
(3) The number of individuals who applied for care or
services under such section during that period but who were
denied, including information on the reasons for such denials.
(4) The number of individuals who applied for care or
services under such section and are awaiting a decision from
the Secretary on eligibility for such care or services. as of
the date of such report.
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